Convertible trunk table



Oct. 7, 1941. 1 A, MAXWELL 4 27,258,364

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK TABLE Filed June 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR;da/7 /Wd/m// Ocf- 7, 1941 J. A. MAXWELL coNvERTIBLE-RUNK TABLEv 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1938 I NV EN TOR, Mmm/6M Patented Oct. 7,1941 UNITED STATES1 PATENT OFFICE CoNvER'rIBLnTRUNK TABLE l I JohnMaxwell," Kansas City, Kans. Application June 22, 1938, Serial No.215,160 l `iolaims. (o1. 19o- 11) This invention` relates to aconvertible trunk tableadapted to serve as a trunk and to be easily` andquickly converted sturdy table.

into a convenient and the `parts are so arranged and constructed as toproduce a simple and strong `table and also to` produce `a trunk, whenfolded, that ha-s the major'inner portion thereof unobstructed by thetable parts.

p Another object of the present invention is thef.

trunk table with the tray cover removed andpartially opened to discloselthe parts. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the devicewhen convertedinto av table. I Fig.; 4 is a modified formof the tray wherein legs areprovided to present a utility table; and, l Fig. 5is a perspective viewof the tray shown in Fig. 4 with the legs extended` Throughout theseveral views like reference characters designate similar parts and thenumeral I0 is a table top'of rectangular planar construction which isprovided vadjacent its longitudinal edges with depending aprons I2 anddepending end members I4. The aprons are relatively narrow and aresecured tothe tabletop IIJ in any suitable manner, and are in abuttedrelation to the end members I4wwhich extend therebelow. The apron I2 isspaced inwardly from the marginali edge of the table top, as shown inFig. 2, to permit proper assembly of the `parts as hereinafter setforth.

Truss bars I6 are mor-tised at I8 into and attach at their one end toend members I4 and extend inwardly and upwardly' to meet aprons I2 towhich they are secured by means of screws 20. The parts thus fardescribed, constitute the rigid body portion of the device to which theremovable parts are attached.

At each of `the longitudinal sides of the table top `is attached, bymeans of hinges 22, a leaf 24. lThese leaves whenfextended are in reg-The principal object of this'invention is the i. provision of aconvertible trunkA tableA wherein` ister'ed planar, relation `with the`table top IU `to present an uninterrupted surfaceand when collapsed,lay against the 4edges of saidend members with the free edges flush withlow'er edges ,thereof to form the body of th'e trunk.

lBrackets 26 hinged at 28 to aprons I2 are adapted to be swung outwardlyto engage the lower surface of leaves 24 ,whereby theyare supported inthe extended position. `One of these hinged brackets 26 is positionedadjacent each cover of the table top, and is hinged in such a manner asto close against said apron to permit proper closing of said leaves, asdescribed above. Brackets 26 are recessed at 30 to provide clearanceabove hinge 22.

The hooks 32 carried by end members I4 are adapted to'engage eyes 34carried by leaves `24 to secure the parts in the collapsed position.

l A pairV of legs 36 are attached in spaced apart relationadjacentaprons I2 by means of hingesv 38 `to one of theend members I4,while another pair of legslID is attached by means of hinges 42 to theopposite end members. Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted thatthe `pairof legs `36 is hinged closer to the table top I0 so that thecorresponding legs of the` two pairs may be positioned one above theother in alignment with the respective aprons I2. p

, Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that a notch 4I is formed in theend members I4 ad `Jarc'ent each of the legsand that the legs when movedto the extended position, as shown in dotted lines, will restin` thesegrooves to prevent undue lateral strains on the hinge.

Each leg is provided witha laterally disposed lug 43 spaced apart fromthe outer 'end thereof and adapted to support a cover tray 44 thereon,as shown in Fig. 3. When the legs are extended `and nested in notches 4Iandthe tray cover `44 is positioned, it is evident that the table willbe secured in assembled relation.

The trayfcover 44serves also to telescope the "end` and leaf members,`as shown in Fig. l, to `form a closure. Vl-lasps 46 carried by th-etray engage with `staples 48V carried by end member to secure the trunkclosed.

Hand-holds 50 secured to end members I4 serve for convenient shifting ofthe trunk or table.

`As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tray 44 may be furnished with hingedlegs 52 with pivoted stay bars 54 thereby providing an auxiliary tablewithout interfering withthe usefulness of the tray as a cover for the"trunk or for use with the primary table.

It is apparent from the above description that a convertible trunk tablehas been produced that is adapted to carry a relatively large quantityof goods and also one that can be readily converted into a sturdy andserviceable table.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A convertible trunk table comprising a table top having dependingside aprons and end members, said end members extending below the apronsand the aprons being spaced inwardly from the marginal edge of the tabletop; table leaves hingedly carried by the table top and adapted to bepositioned in planar relation therewith and at right angles theretotorest against the ends of said end members in spaced relation with therespective adjacent aprons and with the free edge thereof registeringwith the lower end of said end members; means hinged to said apron tosupport said leaves in the extended position; legs hingedly carried bysaid end members adapted to be positioned in parallel relation withinthe confines of said end members and in the space between the aprons andthe leaves :and to be extendedto serve as a support for said table top;and means to secure said relatively movable parts in xed relation.

2. A convertible trunk table comprising a table top having dependingside aprons and end members, said end `members extending belowV theaprons and the aprons being spaced inwardly 'from the marginal edge ofthe table top; table leaves hingedly carried by -the table top andadapted to be positioned in planar relation therewith and at rightangles-thereto to rest'against the ends of said end members in spacedrelation to the respective aprons and with the free eldge thereofregistering with the lower end of said end members; ybrackets hinged tosaid table structure movable to support said leaves in planary relationwith said table top; legs hingedly carried by said end members adaptedto be positioned in parallel relation within the confines of said endmembers and to be extended to serve as a support for said table top;means to secure said relatively movable parts in iixed relation;inturned transverse lug carried by each of said legs; and a anged traypositioned between said extended legs on said lugs to secure them inposition and being adapted to serve as a cover when the parts arearranged as a trunk.

3. A convertible trunk table comprising a table top having dependingside vaprons spaced inwardly from the marginal edge thereof; dependingend members carried by said table top, extending below said aprons andsecured thereto by obliquely disposed truss bars; leaves hinged to theedge of said table top adjacent said aprons to forma compartmenttherebetween and adapted to extend downwardly ush with the bottom ofsaid end members and below said apron; brackets hinged to said tablestructure, movable to a position beneath said leaves whereby the leavesare supported in planar relation with said table top; a pair of legshinged to each of said end members positioned in the compartment betweensaid leaves and aprons adapted to be extended substantially parallelwith the end members whereby the table top is supported in the operativeposition; a transverse lug extending from each of said legs; and a traypositioned between said pairs of legs on said lugs.

' 4. A convertible trunk table comprising a table top having rigidlyattached depending aprons spaced inwardly from the marginal edgesthereof a vertically notched depending end member at each end of saidtable top secured thereto and extending below said aprons and havingnotches formed in the inside lower portion thereof; hinged table leavesat opposite sides of said table top adapted to extend downwardly flushwith the lower edge of said end members; brackets hingedly carried bysaid table structure, movable to a position to support said leaves inplanar relation with said table top; a pair of legs hinged to each ofsaid end members adapted to be ex- .tended substantially perpendicularwith said table top and also to extend into the adjacent notch in theend member; a transverse lug extending inwardly from yeach of said legs;and

'a removable tray positioned between said pair of legs on said lugs.

5. A convertible trunk table comprising a table `top having dependingaprons at its opposite sides, spaced inwardly from the marginal edgesthereof; depending,*notched end members carried at opposite ends of saidtable top, abutting and extending below said aprons and havingvertically disposed notches formed in the inside thereof; table leaveshinged at opposite sides of said table top adapted to extend downwardlysubstantially flush with the lower edge of said end members and to restthereagainst; vbrackets hingedly carried by said table structure adaptedto support said leaves in planar relation with the table top and to beoscillated to a position between said apron and said leaf, when the leafis moved to the collapsed position; a pair of legs hinged to each ofsaid end members and adapted to be positioned in parallel relation withsaid table top and withinV theV confines of said end members and to beextended to engage `the notches in said end members; a cover trayadapted to telescope said lower edges of the end members Vand collapsedleaves to form a closure therefor; and means on said tray adapted tocooperate with means on the members for securing said cover tray inposition.

6. A convertible trunk table comprising a table top having dependingvertically notched end members and rigidly attachedV depending apronsspaced inwardly from the marginal side edge of said table top andterminating above said end members; table leaves hingedly carried by thetable top and adapted to be positioned in planar relation therewith andalso at right angles thereto to rest against the ends of said endmembers with the free edge thereof in spaced relation with thesaidadjacent apron and registering with the lower end of said endmembers; brackets hingedly carried by said table structure movable to aposition to support said leaves in planar relation with said table topand adapted to be positioned between the adjacent apronV and table leafwhen the leaf is at a right angle tothe table top and resting againstsaid end members, a pair of legs hinged to each of said end membersadapted to be extended substantially perpendicular to said table top tobe positioned in the adjacent notches formed inthe end members; atransversely disposed lug extending 4inwardly from each of saidlegs; anda flanged tray adapted to' be positioned between the extended legs torest on said lugs to secure the legsin operative position and alsotoserve as a cover when the parts are arranged" as -a trunk to engagesaid leaves and end members.I i f 7; A convertible trunk 4tablecomprising a table top having depending side aprons and end members,said end members extending below the aprons and the aprons being spacedinwardly from the marginal edge of the table top; table leaves hingedlycarried by the table top and adapted to be positioned in planar relationtherewith and also at right angles thereto to rest against the ends ofsaid end members and in spaced relation with the respective aprons andwith the free edges thereof registering with the lower end of said endmembers; means hinged to said aprons adapted to be moved to a positionto support said leaves in the extended position;

legs hingedly carried by said end members adapted to be positioned inparallel relation Within the confines of said end members and to beextended to serve as supports for said table top, a tray having angesadapted to rest on lugs carried by said legs to secure said legs in thetable top supporting position and also being adapted to engage themarginal edge of said end members and said leaves when thedevice isconverted into a trunk; and means carried by said tray for engagementwith means carried by said end members to secure the parts together.

JOHN A. MAXWELL.

